Chapter 295: Ice-Cold

Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Ice-Cold

Feng Ling asked if the Alien Species was offline, and Bai Lu nodded. "It should be."

"If no Card dropped, then how did you determine whether the target killed was an Alien Species or a regular human?" Feng Ling asked again. "Can you tell me what happened then?"

He Xingluo, who was standing to the side, was desperately trying to give Feng Ling a warning look.

’The person who killed the Alien Species was Bai Lu’s sister. Wasn’t this just bringing up a painful subject for her?’

Bai Lu’s expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "Oh... it would be hard to explain in just a sentence or two. If you’re interested, you can watch the video of the operation that night."

Bai Lu turned, walked back to her desk, and picked up a file folder, handing it to Feng Ling. "All the materials related to the dismemberment case are in here. I’ll also give you an authorization code. You can borrow a computer from the IT department and use the code to look up the video from that day."

"Thanks." Feng Ling accepted it readily. "If I don’t find anything, I won’t get punished, will I?"

Bai Lu smiled faintly at her words. "You won’t. The public isn’t unreasonable, they just want an explanation. So, all you have to do is give them one."

She casually picked up the small watering can she’d been using to water the flowers and began watering a potted cactus on her desk. She continued, "Actually, the Inspection Bureau could provide this explanation, but your public reputation is very high right now. The masses are more willing to trust a civilian hero like you, someone uninvolved in any conflicts of interest. You can act as an investigative consultant for Jinnan City and look into the dismemberment case."

Feng Ling watched Bai Lu water the plant, really wanting to say, ’Your cactus is about to drown.’

He Xingluo, standing nearby, chimed in, "If you spend any time online, you’ve probably noticed. Whenever a heinous crime happens, there are always some influencers or experts who offer all kinds of analysis and speculation. People are often more inclined to believe their conclusions than the official police announcements."

Feng Ling smiled. "I get it. I’ll be sure to go over these materials."

Bai Lu said, "Don’t rush. You just got off a plane. Get some rest and take your time getting settled in. If you have any questions at all, you can always come find me."

"Thanks so much~" Feng Ling said politely, holding the file folder. "I’ll head back to my room now and let you get back to your work, Captain Bai."

Bai Lu gave a slight nod. Picking up the watering can again, she continued watering the office plants. Her eyes were downcast, and her voice was soft and leisurely. "You two, please walk Feng Ling out."

He Yue Ning and He Xingluo exchanged a glance, then silently left the office with Feng Ling.

The three of them entered the elevator and swiped a card.

The moment the elevator doors closed, He Yue Ning eagerly asked Feng Ling, "So? What’d you think? What was your first impression of Captain Bai?"

Feng Ling replied, "She seems pretty great."

"Don’t you think she’s a little cold?" He Yue Ning pressed mischievously.

Feng Ling shot her a quizzical look.

Like a child who couldn’t hold it in any longer, He Yue Ning grinned and said, "I’ll let you in on a little secret. Captain Bai is actually a really nice person, but her Card gives her an ice and snow-related ability, so it affects her whole disposition..."

"Hey, we have regulations against privately discussing another Inspector’s Card," He Xingluo reminded her sister with a frown.

He Yue Ning immediately argued back, "I didn’t say what Captain Bai’s Card is! I just wanted to give Feng Ling a heads-up. Besides, I’m sure Feng Ling won’t go around telling people."

Feng Ling shook her head. "You’ve got the wrong person. I love to gossip."

He Yue Ning was instantly struck speechless, her eyes wide as she stared at Feng Ling.

He Xingluo burst out laughing.

The elevator arrived at the fifth floor, and Feng Ling stepped out.

He Yue Ning chased after her, her face a mask of despair. "Feng Ling! Feng Ling! You were just kidding, right? You’re not actually going to leak Captain Bai’s Card information, are you? Don’t scare me! If I get disciplined, I have to write a two-thousand-word self-criticism report!"

"That’s because you haven’t written enough of them. They should make you write three-thousand-word ones," He Xingluo said, gloating as she followed behind them.

Up ahead, Feng Ling stopped in her tracks.

In the relatively narrow hallway, a squad was walking toward them. The man in the lead was burly and powerfully built, dressed in dark combat fatigues. The tactical pouch on his belt was stuffed full, and his firearm glinted coldly under the lights.

He Yue Ning immediately called out, "Captain Fan!"

He Xingluo saw them too. "Captain Fan, is today’s patrol finished?"

The man stopped and replied, "Squad B’s patrol duty is complete. Squad A is on watch in the downtown district. The next patrol rotation starts at 8 PM and ends at midnight."

"Thank you for your hard work," He Xingluo said with a nod. "I’ll be leading the patrol tonight."

"Yes, ma’am," the man responded, then led his team members away.

He Yue Ning leaned close to Feng Ling and whispered, "That was Fan Ze, the captain of the Special Attack Team here. The Bureau’s forces are composed of two parts: Inspectors and the Special Attack Team. The Special Attack Team’s job is to assist the Inspectors in maintaining urban peace. I’ve heard that in some cities, after all the Inspectors at an Inspection Bureau were killed in action, the Special Attack Team had to hold the line all by themselves. They can’t back down, even knowing they’ll be facing Alien Species. It’s an incredibly tough job."

"Things will get better," He Xingluo said, looking at He Yue Ning. "I mean, look, we were just transferred here, right? The number of Inspectors will gradually increase. The Special Attack Team is just a stopgap measure for when we’re short-staffed."

He Yue Ning nodded with a smile. "Exactly! We’re here to help ease Captain Bai’s burden."

Feng Ling thought, ’I don’t get the sense that Captain Bai is under any pressure...’

’Not only does she seem pressure-free, she’s positively carefree—wearing a flowy dress in the office, leisurely watering her plants, soaking up the sun... She’s almost like a retired official living a life of tranquil wellness. Where’s the pressure in any of that?’

But she kept that thought to herself.

’After all, her sister just died. Maybe the way she’s acting is just a form of self-preservation?’

’It wasn’t unheard of, after all. Some people lose a loved one and act so calm it’s like nothing happened, only to suddenly break down sobbing a year or two later.’

"Feng Ling, what are you thinking about?" He Yue Ning asked, seeing her spacing out.

"Oh..." Feng Ling said casually, "Nothing much. I just think everyone here seems pretty cold. That guy from before, Fan-something, didn’t crack a smile the entire time."

The entire Jinnan City Inspection Bureau gave off a cold, austere air.

The twin sisters, He Yue Ning and He Xingluo, were like a pair of cheerful sunflowers, completely out of place in this frigid atmosphere.

He Xingluo said thoughtfully, "Captain Bai’s sister dying in the line of duty was a huge blow to the Special Attack Team. She was a colleague they’d all worked with for a long time. Fan Ze is probably just as devastated as Captain Bai, so it’s only normal he can’t bring himself to smile."

"Maybe they caught it from Captain Bai," He Yue Ning said with a giggle. "Captain Bai’s Card is so strong it froze everyone solid."

He Xingluo’s brow furrowed. "Don’t joke about things like that. Be careful someone doesn’t overhear you."

He Yue Ning shrugged. "Okay, fine, I won’t say it again. It’s just that if they’re always like this, it’s going to be really hard for us to fit in, and even harder to get on the same page for work."

He Xingluo sighed softly. "We’ll just have to take it one step at a time."